Visualized: Acer's Iconia Tab A500 is 'a better choice' than the iPad (update: video!)

We were making our way through Taipei's sublime metro system this week and what did we see on the side of the stairway? Why, it was a collection of iPad images, but rather than an Apple-funded advert, this was an Acer-instigated bit of spec sheet trash talk.

AT&T nabs Acer Iconia Tab A501, expect it in the summer months

We were pretty sure Acer's Iconia Tab would be riding Big Red -- you know, given the LTE modem and Verizon apps on board -- but it looks like the company will also support America's GSM juggernaut with a "4G" radio of some sort. AT&T just announced that the Acer Iconia Tab A501 will bring the 10.1-inch Honeycomb form factor and dual-core 1GHz Tegra 250 processor to its network sometime in Q2, giving the carrier a Android rival to Sprint's HTC EVO View 4G, T-Mobile's LG G-Slate, and of course Verizon's Motorola Xoom. How many Benjamins will it take to bring one home? Now that, my friends, is the question. You can join us in failing to find the answer in a press release below.

PRESS RELEASE

AT&T Network to Support Acer's High Performance, Android-powered 4G Tablet

10.1-inch, HD Ready, Android 3.0 4G Device Launching in Q2 2011

DALLAS, March 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* today announced plans to support Acer's first 4G tablet, the Acer Iconia Tab A501, on the nation's fastest mobile broadband network beginning this summer.

The 10 inch Acer Iconia Tab A501 will feature the Android 3.0 operating system with Android Marketplace, and an NVIDIA Tegra 250 1GHz dual core processor with integrated graphics for the fastest HD gaming, web and multimedia experience.

Designed for both consumers and small business customers, the tablet will also sport a high-resolution display with a wide viewing angle to view super sharp video and other multimedia content. It will come equipped with a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera, a high definition front-facing camera for video chat, and an HDMI port for playing 1080p video on a high definition big screen TV.

"Consumers are seeking cutting-edge mobile computing devices and we look forward to giving them another great choice with the Acer Iconia Tab A501," said David Haight, vice president of business development, AT&T Emerging Devices. "This tablet is packed with features that will enable HD gaming and exceptional video playback. It offers a first-class on-the-go entertainment experience."

"We are pleased to collaborate with AT&T on mobile solutions that allow consumers to remain connected and entertained in any environment," said Sumit Agnihotry, vice president of product marketing, Acer America. "The Acer Iconia Tab A501 combined with AT&T's wireless service enables consumers to enjoy their favorite movies, games, blogs and social networking sites on the go."
Distribution and pricing will be announced at launch, expected in the second quarter.
For more information on AT&T, please visit www.att.com.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

Mobile broadband coverage not available in all areas.

source: engadget

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Longphone Is Long: The Acer Iconia Smart

I’d like to have seen the meeting where this device was approved for development: “Well, the other guys are putting big screens on their phones, in 16:9. Let’s one-up them by making our phone 21:9, since that 21:9 TV sold so well!”


This beast, the Iconia Smart, is just too much. It’s really huge, and it’s not very thin or light. And of course, you can’t get the same “cinematic” effect that 21:9 is supposed to create without putting it really close to your eyes. It also has Dolby Surround Sound, but that can’t possibly mean on the on-phone speakers, so it probably has more to do with the quality of your headphones than anything. The screen is 4.8 inches and 1024×480. Really now.

The good news is it’s running Android 2.3 (with a slightly awkward, in my opinion, Acer skin over it) and it has powerful guts, plus a big 8-megapixel camera on the back and gyros inside for gaming. Still, though, I just can’t imagine using this thing. Just get a tablet!

Acer debuts GN245HQ monitor with HDMI 3D support from NVIDIA

Acer's already rolled out a few 3D-capable monitors (among other products), but none quite like it's new GN245HQ model, which the company notes is the "first 3D monitor in the world" to support NVIDIA's HDMI 3D solution. That means you'll be able to view 3D content from a connected set-top box or Blu-ray player in addition to a PC connected via DVI-DL, and do so with the included active shutter glasses that work in conjunction with the monitor's built-in IR emitter. As for the monitor itself, you'll get the usual 1920 x 1080 resolution and 120MHz refresh rate, along with a 2ms response time, a pair of built-in 2W speakers, and LED backlighting that uses two lamps instead of four for a promised 68% savings in power consumption. No official word on a US release just yet, but you can look for this one to hit the UK in mid-March for £419.99 (or about $675).

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